Numbers throughout reflect 2026 national averages. Costs vary substantially by state, metro area, and level of care. Always get specific quotes for your area before making a decision.
The five care levels — and what each costs
1. Adult day care
Daytime supervision and activities, your parent comes home at night. Typical cost: $80-$150 per day ($1,800-$3,300/mo if used 22 weekdays). Best for families where someone is home evenings and overnight, but daytime coverage is needed.
2. In-home care (non-medical)
A caregiver comes to the home to help with daily living — bathing, dressing, meals, light housekeeping, companionship. $28-$40 per hour. A common 4-hour-per-day plan runs $3,300-$4,800/mo. Full 24-hour live-in care runs $15,000-$25,000/mo.
3. Home health care (medical)
Skilled medical services at home — nursing visits, physical therapy, wound care. $30-$50 per hour for an aide; $80-$200 per visit for a nurse. Often partially covered by Medicare if it follows a hospitalization (read more in our Medicare home care guide).
4. Assisted living facility
Private apartment in a community, meals, housekeeping, activities, on-site staff. National median: $5,350/mo. Range: $4,000-$10,000/mo. Memory care units add $1,000-$3,000/mo. Move-in fees of $2,500-$5,000 are typical and non-refundable.
5. Nursing home (skilled nursing facility)
For seniors needing 24/7 medical care. $8,500-$11,000/mo for a semi-private room; $9,500-$12,500/mo for private. Medicare covers up to 100 days following a qualifying hospital stay, then it's out-of-pocket or Medicaid.
The Mabel option
For families whose parent is still independent enough to live at home but needs daily check-ins, medication reminders, and family alerts: $29.97-$179.97 per month. No move, no facility fee, no contract. Most families save $80,000+ per year compared to assisted living.
See full comparison →How to pay for it
1. Long-term care insurance (if they have it)
If your parent bought a long-term care policy years ago, dust it off. Modern policies typically cover $100-$300/day for a defined benefit period (3-5 years common). Most don't cover Mabel-style services yet — but they DO cover home health care, adult day care, and assisted living.
2. Medicare (limited)
What Medicare covers: Up to 100 days of skilled nursing facility care after a 3-day hospital stay. Home health visits if medically necessary. Some Medicare Advantage plans now cover companion services as a supplemental benefit (this is changing fast — ask your agent).
What Medicare does NOT cover: Long-term assisted living. Long-term in-home help with bathing, dressing, meals (unless it's briefly post-hospital). This is the biggest misconception families have.
3. Medicaid (means-tested)
Medicaid covers nursing-home care for seniors who qualify financially (typically less than $2,000 in countable assets). Many states also have Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers that pay for in-home care, adult day care, and even assisted living to help seniors avoid moving to a nursing home.
Important: Medicaid has a 5-year look-back period for asset transfers. Don't try to give away assets to qualify — talk to an elder-law attorney first. (Vera, our elder-law specialist on Premier, can give you general guidance.)
4. Veterans benefits (huge and overlooked)
VA Aid & Attendance benefit — up to $2,727/month for a veteran needing help with daily living, $1,759/month for a surviving spouse. Most veterans don't know they qualify. If your parent served and was honorably discharged, look into this immediately. It's tax-free.
5. State and local programs
Most states have programs for low-income seniors — utility assistance, prescription discount programs, transportation, meal delivery. Find them via your state's Area Agency on Aging (call 1-800-677-1116, the national Eldercare Locator).
6. Reverse mortgage (use carefully)
For homeowners 62+, a reverse mortgage can convert home equity into cash for care. Useful in some situations, terrible in others. Always talk to a HUD-approved counselor first (they're free). The big risk: if your parent moves to assisted living for more than 12 months, the loan becomes due — usually requiring a home sale.
7. Family contributions
Often unavoidable. The honest math: if six adult children each contribute $250/month, you've covered $1,500/month of in-home care. That's often enough to keep Mom home with Mabel + occasional human help, instead of $7,000/month assisted living.
The most common mistake families make
Defaulting to the most expensive option (assisted living) because it's the most familiar — without first exploring the alternatives. The progression most families should consider:
- Mabel + family — daily check-ins, medication reminders, family alerts. ($30-$150/mo)
- + Home modifications — grab bars, ramps, stair lift. (One-time $200-$5,000)
- + Part-time in-home aide — a few hours a day for the daily-living help. ($1,500-$3,000/mo)
- + Adult day care — if daytime supervision is needed. ($1,800-$3,300/mo)
- Assisted living — when the above genuinely no longer suffices. ($4,000-$10,000/mo)
- Nursing home — only when 24/7 medical care is required. ($8,500-$12,500/mo)
Most seniors can stay home for years longer than their family thinks, with the right combination of these layers.
Bottom line
The cost of doing nothing is the highest cost of all — both in dollars (because problems escalate when ignored) and in life quality (because Mom loses her home before she had to). Start with the cheapest layer that addresses the actual concern. Most families discover they need far less than they thought, once they actually look at what each option provides.
Sources: Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2025, Medicare.gov, Veterans Affairs Aid & Attendance benefit guidance, AARP Cost-of-Care research, National Eldercare Locator.
